Zuccaro cements champion status with dominant Invitation Cup victory

Zuccaro reaffirmed his status as a premier force in Indian racing by securing a commanding victory in the Zavaray Poonawalla Indian Turf Invitation Cup at the Mysore Race Club on Sunday. The six-year-old, sired by Kingda Ka, demonstrated exceptional form under the guidance of jockey Vivek G, who positioned the horse strategically within the mid-bunch before unleashing a powerful surge in the final stretch.

The victory marked a significant milestone for trainer Pesi Shroff, who has meticulously managed the horse’s return to peak fitness following an injury that sidelined him during the 2025 season. Since his return to competition in March 2026, Zuccaro has maintained an unbeaten streak of six consecutive wins. This latest triumph adds to a successful weekend for the Khushroo Dhunjibhoy silks, which also celebrated a victory by Dyf in the Zavaray Poonawalla Stayers’ Cup the previous day.

Other highlights included a productive weekend for jockey Akshay Kumar, who secured four winners across the meeting, and trainer S. John, who saddled the winners of the Zavaray Poonawalla Sprinters’ Cup and the Suresh Mahindra Multi Million. The latter race saw Frederika claim victory under Akshay Kumar’s ride. The event concluded with a series of competitive races, including wins for Spotlight in the Karnataka Race Horse Owners’ Association Million and Maana in the Royal Western India Turf Club Million, rounding off a busy weekend of racing at the Mysore track.